Byzantine Art Essay

Early Christian art was highly influenced by religious, political, and cultural changes. In contrast to the classical, idealistic portrayal of man, Early Christian art took a much more stylized approach to the depiction of man, with a neglected attention to human anatomy. The subject matter of much of the art turned from secular to religious; Christianity to be more specific. Constantine was the last emperor of the Roman Empire to hold undivided power. Under his rule, Constantine created the Edict of Milan, granting religious tolerance to all religions. This was of particular importance to Christians, who had been previously persecuted due to their spiritual beliefs. Because of the Edict of Milan, many Christian buildings were erected in addition to the many secular buildings that were transformed into Christian buildings. These buildings housed countless numbers of priceless religious artworks. One such example is the Transfiguration of Christ mosaic located in Saint Catherineâ€⠄¢s Monastery in Sinai, Egypt. When Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire to Byzantium, which he renamed Constantinople (modern day Istanbul), the Empire separated. Upon the division of the Roman Empire, Justinian, The Last Roman Emperor, held power over the Eastern Roman Empire from 527 to 565. Justinian was both a political and religious leader. Under his reign, many Christian buildings were constructed. Justinian often associated himself with Jesus Christ in the Byzantine artworks that these Christian buildings housed as a form of propaganda. The Orthodox Church now recognizes Justinian as a saint. Byzantine is a term used to describe eastern Mediterranean art from 330 to 1453, when the Turks conquered Constantinople (Strickland, 1992, p. 24). Mosaics were one of the most common forms of art during this period. They were intended to publicize the Christian creed through their religious subject matter (Strickland, 1992, p. 25). Byzantine mosaics are composed of small, colorful glass or stone squares and rectangles, called tesserae, embedded in wet cement or plaster. These tesserae were arranged in a manner through which they formed images. Typically, Byzantine mosaics are located on the walls and ceilings within a church apse and dome (Strickland, 1992, p. 25). The artists of these mosaics left the tesserae with jagged surfaces to create the sparkling, illuminated effect that distinguishes these mosaics  from those of other periods and places (Strickland, 1992, p. 25). The exteriors of Byzantine Christian structures were very plain in contrast to the elaborately decorated interiors. The awe-inspiring mosaics and icons brought the focus of the buildings to the interiors. Perhaps this was a method to spread the word of God by attracting people to come inside the buildings. Byzantine Emperor, Justinian, ordered the construction of he Monastery of the Transfiguration, more commonly known as Saint Catherine’s Monastery because the relics of Saint Catherine of Alexandria are said to have been inexplicably transported there, at the foot of Mount Moses (Wikipedia, 2006). The monastery houses the Chapel of the Burning Bush, which was ordered built by Constantine’s mother, Helena (Wikipedia, 2006). The Chapel of the Burning Bush is located at the site where Moses purportedly saw the burning bush (Wikipedia, 2006). Saint Catherine’s Monastery is now one of the oldest active monasteries in existence. The monastery survived Islamic dominance over the region due to a document that Mohammed supposedly signed himself, granting his protection over the monastery (Wikipedia, 2006). Saint Catherine’s Monastery allegedly gave Mohammed political asylum from his enemies (Wikipedia, 2006). In addition, a Fatimid mosque was built within the fortifications of Saint Catherine’s Monastery, thus creating further protection of the monastery from Islamic invasion (Wikipedia, 2006). Without the protection of Mohammed and the mosque, Saint Catherine’s Monastery would have been destroyed, and all of the irreplaceable artworks within its walls would have been lost. Byzantine mosaics contain many characteristics that distinguish them from the rest. The typical gold background of a Byzantine mosaic creates a sense of weightlessness within the figures, as if they are floating. Byzantine artists depicted sacred figures with halos, separating them from the other figures. With nude images having been forbidden, one can hardly make out the anatomy of the fully clothed figures. Though it is evident that symmetry was greatly appreciated, it is also evident that the mosaics lack perspective.  The figures depicted in the mosaics are flat and frontal facing with linear details. They are often slim with almond shaped faces and large eyes. The images depict little to no movement, creating a sense of stillness. These highly stylized Byzantine mosaics show disregard for Greco-Roman ideals. On an expedition set out by the University of Michigan in search of sites to excavate in the Near East, the staff spent five days at Saint Catherine’s Monastery (Forsyth, 1997). They discovered that the mosaics within the monastery had undergone little restoration since the time of Justinian (Forsyth, 1997). As a result, most of the works were in bad condition and on the verge of collapsing (Forsyth, 1997). Mosaic restorers came in to save the mosaics, which could have been lost forever (Forsyth, 1997). After they secured the mosaics, the restorers cleaned them (Forsyth, 1997). The mosaics now appear in their original state (Forsyth, 1997). One of the most known mosaics restored was the Transfiguration of Christ (Forsyth, 1997). The Transfiguration of Christ is located in the main church, Katholikon, in the apse over the high altar. The subject of this mosaic was an appropriate selection to portray in Saint Catherine’s Monastery because of its location at the foot of Mount Moses (Watson, 1999). In Christianity, the story claims that Jesus led three of his apostles, Peter, John, and James, to pray atop a mountain. It was here that Jesus transfigured, with his face shining like the sun and wearing bright white clothing. On both sides of Christ, Moses and Elijah appeared. Overhead, a brilliant cloud appeared, and God’s voice emerged from the cloud proclaiming, â€Å"This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.† It was then that Jesus spoke with Moses and Elijah about his upcoming death. The artist of this mosaic is unknown because artists went unrecognized until much later. This mosaic is in the form of a triumphal arch, bordered by medallions occupying the busts of the twelve apostles, fifteen prophets, Longinus the Abbot, John the Deacon, two angels, and a Greek cross in the top, center (Watson, 1999). Jesus Christ is depicted in the center of the mosaic with black hair and beard. He was placed in an oval mandorla with a cross and a bright yellow circle depicting his illumination behind his head.  Rays of light are shown coming from Christ’s body. In addition to the mandorla depicting Christ’s holiness, this was done to make Christ the emphasis of the mosaic as well as to distinguish him from the other figures. Elijah is shown on one side of Christ, while Moses is shown on the other. Beneath Christ, Peter, John, and James are portrayed with awe (Watson, 1999). The Transfiguration of Christ contains all the elements of Byzantine mosaics. It has a bright gold background. The figures are dematerialized and one cannot tell which figures were intended to be floating and which are not. One can hardly make out the figures beneath the clothing and the only skin shown is on the figures’ faces, hands, and feet. All the figures were placed symmetrically around Christ, making him the focus of the mosaic. The halo and mandorla around Christ show his holiness. Only slight movement is shown through the figures’ poses. The figures are very flat, despite the attempts of the artist to show shadow and overlapping. All of the figures are slender with almond shaped heads and large eyes. One can hardly see perspective when observing this mosaic. In conclusion, religion, politics, and culture had a significant influence on The Transfiguration of Christ, and all Early Christian art for that matter. With the Edict of Milan legalizing Christianity, the focus of art turned from secular to religious, changing the course of art forever. The Edict of Milan made it possible for Christians to practice their spiritual beliefs openly, leading to Early Christian art. Early Christian art can be credited with the spread of Christianity. One might wonder if Christianity would be as prominent as it is today had it not been for these artworks, or would it have died off a long time ago. Without Early Christian art, one might wonder when or how today’s modern day art would have evolved.

Approaches to Branding Essay

It is essential for a business to build strong relationship with its customers to be able to stay above all competitors. One tool that a company has is a strong brand. The following are the most common ways of how companies use branding in marketing their products or services. Corporate Branding. This type has been around ever since competition among business started. In corporate branding a company uses its own name as the brand for the company. The company usually promotes its products under that brand name (Crystal 2003). An example of which is Disney, where all products of the company included the name â€Å"Disney†. In this approach the corporation or company is the main selling point (Csaba, Schultz & Yun 2005). If successfully used the company can create brand loyalty where customers look for products under that company or under the brand name. The downside of this approach is that the company will have a tendency to be identified with a single product category (Crystal 2003). Employer Branding. With the rise of newer resources like technology, the fact remains that personnel are still the most important resource of any company. As the competition for first-rate employees becomes tight, companies attract them through Human Resources Marketing or through employer branding (VersantWorks 2008). Employer branding is the impression of the stakeholders – current employees, potential hires, and previous staff – about the company as place of work (Harris 2002). The idea is to instill in the stakeholders mind that the company is â€Å"great place to work†. It immerses the employee into the company, gives the employees a sense of pride and belongingness and most important of all job fulfillment (VersantWorks 2008). A company with a good employer branding is L’Oreal. Voted as one of the Fast Moving Consumer Goods – FMCG – Employer of Choice (Employer Profile 2008). L’Oreal’s career website declares it in black and white. The company’s objective is to provide a sound working environment for its employees. Working for L’Oreal would entail a secure workplace, performance is given credit, a diverse culture, and where privacy and private life are valued (As An Employer 2008). What makes this strategy work for the company is because L’Oreal knows who it wanted to hire and focus the HR endeavor to accomplish the task (Klein 2008). Cause Branding. This is an approach in branding where a company supports a cause to be able to increase profits or to set it apart from competitors (Ivy Cohen Corporate Communications 2007). As examples will be Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, ConAgra Foods’ Feeding Children Better Program, Reebok’s Human Rights Awards and Rockport’s Fitness Walking Program. This initiative is usually interchanged with cause marketing and corporate social responsibility. Cause marketing just like cause branding seems to have the same objective but the difference lies in the duration. Short-lived cause marketing initiatives are usually one-time deals like food drives, collection bins, and auctions for charity. While cause branding is a year-long continuous endeavor. Where the company tries to associate a cause to the brand in the customers’ mentality (Evergreen & Partners 2005). On the other hand CSR or Corporate Social Responsibility is the broader initiative that consumers expect from a company. CSR involves labor practices of the company, community activities and environmental programs. It comprises various causes while cause branding focus only on one cause (Evergreen & Partners 2005).

Markets, marketing and strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Markets, marketing and strategy - Essay Example A PEST analysis is an analysis of the external macro-environment that affects all firms. P.E.S.T. is an acronym for the Political, Economic, Social and Technological factors of the external macro-environment. Such external factors usually are beyond the firm’s control and sometimes present themselves as threats. Speaking about the political factors of the merger to take place, the principal ones to consider are trade regulations and tariffs, as BHI performs business in the three different locations all over the world, as well as such merger may be taken as the striving of both company for creating a monopoly. Taxation should also be taken into account; however, as BHI itself used to successfully run all three businesses, and the European Commission has approved on the merger, these factors are not threats here, though should be kept under control. Economic factors are also present here, as the merger presupposes intervention into business in other countries; however, as far as the businesses perform successfully, there is no threat of getting into worse infrastructure quality or facing difficulties with employment; Reckitt Benckniser has to closely consider the skill level of workforce, especially in business unit operated by BHI in Thailand, which may appear an opportunity for quality improvements. Social and technological factors here don’t represent any significance, as the businesses have been performing for a certain period of time and have both acquired stable position on the market.

How does decentralised cooperation help Asian cities adopt and Essay

How does decentralised cooperation help Asian cities adopt and implement the integrated approaches to urban heritage conservation by setting up the appropriate - Essay Example cooperation strategy precede the actual live case study of a successful development cooperation between the cities of Chinon and Luang Prabang.The case study exemplifies that the ten year old development cooperation was a success owing to active funding, lively and positive political will, international and domestic partnering, involvement and empowering of local population, creation of a regulatory framework, creation of an accountable and audited nation wide system of organizations entrusted with the task of urban regeneration integrated with harmonious protection of cultural heritage and proper system of regeneration and conservation skills transfer and training. Further discussions reveal that many Asian cities can benefit by replicating the Chinon and Luang Prabang model. The paper suggests that future research can continuously probe the need to apply this model to various regions in Asia which will not only result in harmonious urbanization of these areas without damaging their culture but also work to broaden the horizons of international partners who would also gain from the Asian context. Asia-Pacific region is privileged to possess a vast and ancient cultural heritage. For such a long time, this heritage has shaped much of the lives and value systems of the regions’ peoples. However, heritage is more than a mere historical record of the past; on the contrary, it is an integral part of the identity, and a symbol of the cultural identity of the citizens and the communities of the region. Notwithstanding this, Asia is under pressure from various influences. For one, there is globalisation and the need to modernize, two, from unabated increase in population of the region, and, three, from the burgeoning demands of tourism. As a consequence, many cities have come to recognise that their time-preserved cultural heritages are facing the danger of being destroyed in the name of economic development and modernisation. Rapid and large-scale industrialisation and

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP - Essay Example At the beginning of the 20th century, IQ tests had been considered as the most valid measure of individual intelligence and potential to achieve success in life (Mandell & Pherwani 2003). However, IQ could not reflect the emotional and situational factors of leadership success (Mandell & Pherwani 2003). Today, research of how emotional intelligence and gender affect leadership styles is gaining momentum in organization studies and industrial psychology. More often than not, emotionally intelligent leaders are believed to possess an inherent capacity to perform better and transform the organization. Gender is claimed to predetermine the choice of particular leadership style. However, both assumptions have their strengths and limitations. Emotional intelligence and leadership styles That emotional intelligence (EI) and leadership style create a cohesive relationship has been widely documented. The body of empirical and theoretical literature examining the effects of EI on leadership style constantly expands. Emotionally intelligent leaders are generally considered to be happier than their non-emotional colleagues (Gardner & Stough 2002). Emotionally intelligent leaders are associated with greater workplace and organizational commitments and are believed to have emotions needed to improve the quality of decision making in organizations (Gardner & Stough 2002). Emotions have the potential to boost enthusiasm in followers and contribute to the development of sustained interpersonal relationships (Gardner & Stough 2002). These are the most popular claims highlighting the relationship between leaders and their emotions; but is everything as good as it seems? Generally, researchers recognize that EI does affect leadership styles. Of particular importance is the relationship between EI and transformational leadership (Mandell & Pherwani 2003). Really, transformational leaders usually display a greater extent of emotions than non-transformational leaders, and this fact has far-reaching implications for the effectiveness of their leadership decisions. EI enables transformational leaders to develop and articulate enthusiasm for the vision and mission (Mandell & Pherwani 2003). Emotions contribute to the development of charisma in leaders (Mandell & Pherwani 2003). Emotional leaders have better opportunities to develop trust and commitment among their followers. It is no wonder that EI is mainly associated with transformations and transformational leadership styles. Leaders who score high on emotional intelligence scale usually display better emotional recognition and expression that non-emotional leaders (Gardner & Stough 2002). They can eas ily identify their feelings and express these feelings to others. EI leaders have a capacity to incorporate their emotions in decision making and use these emotions for the benefit of their organization. In other words, emotionally intelligent leaders can use their emotions to direct and guide their cognition (Gardner & Stough 2002). Emotional intelligence greatly influences leadership style, because emotionally intelligent leaders can read other people’s emotions, identify and interpret them; more often than not, it is transformational leaders that accomplish this emotional job (Gardner & Stough 2002). Emotionally intelligent leaders also possess good emotional control and can manage their own and others’ positive and negative emotions (Gardner & Stough 2002). The main question is in whether the EI-leadership relationship is strong and what theoretical models (if any) can

Business Trend analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Business Trend analysis - Essay Example The essay "Business Trend Analysis: Celebrity Endorsements for Adolescent Product Marketing" is a profound analysis of the recent trends in the Product Marketing. Researcher focuses on the link between celebrity culture and consumer capitalism is evident in all forms of mass communication. All advertisers know that when used properly, celebrities can be very powerful marketing tools and help amplify the effects of an ad campaign. At the same time they must be very cautious in the current market to utilize this strong influence in an appropriate manner with carefully screened or ‘foolproof’ endorsers to avoid the kind of negative repercussions felt by products recently endorsed by such Hollywood embarrassments as Paris Hilton, Brittney Spears or Lindsey Lohan. Advertising agencies must decide by what method to utilise celebrities for a campaign. Agencies are cautious of potential downsides much more than potential upsides if the campaign has a long-term strategy. Celebrit ies alone do not guarantee success as consumers understand advertising, know what advertising is, and how it works. People know celebrities are being paid a lot of money for endorsements and this knowledge leads them to cynicism about celebrity endorsements. Particularly within the adolescent market, where potential endorsers are teenagers themselves and thus highly susceptible to the kinds of sensationalistic headlines as those produced recently, it is wise to avoid celebrity endorsement as often as possible.

Development of Education in Saudi Arabia Term Paper

Development of Education in Saudi Arabia - Term Paper Example Saudi Arabia government is alive to this fact and invests significant investments in its educational program covering elementary, secondary and higher education. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia occupies about 80 percent of the Arabian Peninsula has a total area of 2, 2400,000 km2.ii They note that the population in Saudi Arabia is largely skewed with statistics showing that Saudis aged who are 14 and below account for 40 percent for a country with a total population of 27 million. This means that the country should invest heavily in education and health sector to guarantee proper upbringing for its young generation. Previously, the Arabian Peninsula existed as different parts until 1932 when King Abdulaziz Ibn Saudi was recognized the king of Saudi Arabia has taken over control of Hejaz, Sultan Nejd and the Dependencies in 1926.iii The kingdom did not have a formal educational system until 1369/70 AH (1949/50 AD).iv Prior to the introduction of a formal educational system, traditional ed ucational was followed known as ‘’kuttab’’. In this form of education, the schools were only open to boys although young girls could be allowed to attend kuttabs.v However, girls were to learn from their homes. The education system was established following massive support and lobbying from Prince Fahd Ibn Abdel Aziz who later became a king. The education system in Saudi Arabia is based on religion.vi Saudi Arabia developed its educational policy based on a formula that is relevant to all societies as postulated by Arnold Anderson. Anderson explained that in the provision of education every society has an objective of meeting three basic requirements which include: a capability to offer training to those to utilize such skills; equal opportunity for all members of the society and offer respect an individual’s right to choice in education thereby allowing flexibility.vii This paper will assess the development of education in Saudi Arabia. It will fir st provide an overview of economic development in Saudi Arabia followed by a discussion on the advancement of the various institutions involved with ensuring the provision of quality education such as the ministry of education and advancement in elementary, high school and higher education. Additionally, the paper will seek to discuss the advancement of private and sector education sectors and how women education is perceived in the country as an indicator of equality. Lastly, the paper will bring out the governmental scholarship plans and their benefits to the society. Saudi Arabia has experienced steady and significant economic development parallel to political and societal change.viii The country posted a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 6.8 percent in the last year’s fiscal year. The country has posted impressive GDP ratings given that between 1968 and 2010, Saudi Arabia has had an average quarterly figure of 5.03 percent. Prior to the establishment of the modern Saudi Ara bia kingdom in 1932, the society largely depended on agriculture and trade; exporting dates and trading with pilgrims visiting Makkah and Madinah.ix The country was devoid of any infrastructure necessary to support economic growth. However, things took a dramatic twist in 1938 with discovery exploitable of oil deposits and after the Second World War, oil exports helped the country acquire the necessary resources to implement infrastructural developments building world-class roads, schools, hospitals and seaports.     

Preserving illinois wetlands Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Preserving illinois wetlands - Essay Example The achievement of the measures will be put in to analysis together with how the goals and objectives of wetlands preservation in Illinois have been effective. Wetlands conservation is of international concern because they are transitional area between the open water and the dry land. They serve many function such recharging the ground and sea water, providing habitats to fish and other aquatic organisms, they also protect floods damage and improves water quality by purifying to reduce on chemicals and other harmful bodies. These benefits increase the need to preserve the wetlands. There has been establishment of Illinois Wetlands Conservation Strategy (IWCS) which is a comprehensive plan to guide the implementation and development the wetlands protection initiatives. The goal of the IWCS is to ensure there are no losses of wetlands or the functional value of wetlands is lost. Their objective is to develop and implement an ecosystem strategy that is directed towards protection, restoration and conservation of wetlands (Dunne & Knapp, 11-26). Agencies such Ducks unlimited introduced a method where it would purchase land from original owners to safe it from destruction. The government funds those agencies that work towards conservation of the wetlands which acts as a motivator to agencies to work towards such a course (Mitsch & Gosselink, 24-36). The measures have been effective in conservation of the wetlands. Ducks unlimited have registered success where it have bought the encroached land from their original owners and uses them as homes for ducks and other birds. IWSC have registered success in its implementation of the various policies which it has formulated to protect and conserve wetlands. The agencies have registered success in restoration of the wetlands where they have been able to buy land and plants trees and other plantations which will act as habitat for animals and birds. The government policy to fund agencies has

Frankenstein V Bladerunner Essay Example for Free

Frankenstein V Bladerunner Essay In what ways does a comparative study accentuate the distinctive contexts of Frankenstein and Blade Runner? The comparative study of texts, allows audiences to investigate the changing nature and interpretation of issues relating to humanity as they are interpreted in different contexts. Context allows audiences to relate to and understand the thoughts, decisions and actions of individuals within a text. Context provides the opportunity to develop and shape a new genre or interpret an existing genre in a new way. The comparative study of context allows for audiences to compare the changing values of societies over time. Literary techniques such as allusions, imagery and dialogue is used to shape context and can be used by composers to entertain, inform or persuade an audience or highlight and provide insight into interesting or noteworthy points. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1831) and Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner (Directors Cut-1992) individually utilise literary techniques to establish the context of their text within its time. The comparative study of these two texts highlights how texts are inevitably a product of their time however both texts present issues that explore the intricacies and complexities of all human experience. Shelley and Scott utilise distinctive contexts to explore the nature of humanity and ultimately question what makes us human. Frankenstein and Blade Runner exist to highlight how context affects the perceptions of the audience in regards to how a text is received over time thus highlighting how a comparative study of texts can accentuate distinctive contexts. The comparative study of texts depends on the context used to establish a relationship with the audience. Mary Shelley’s fiction novel Frankenstein (1831) is a hybrid product of 18th century Gothic-Romanticism. The text reflects recent challenges to the social order as a result of the English industrial revolution and the French revolution during the second half of the 18th century which highlighted the empowerment of the working class. Frankenstein is a work of epistolary prose fiction that is explored through multiple narrators such as the ‘monster’, Victor Frankenstein and Robert Walton. Frankenstein exists as a didactic tale that explores the morality of trying to subvert god thus providing a lesson in patriarchal hubris highlighting the arrogance of scientific discovery without any consideration of the moral or ethical implications. Frankenstein consequently explores the nature of obsession in undermining parental and moral responsibility and evoking fear in the creation-fear of the world, fear of man. Subsequently the leading antagonist of Blade Runner, Roy Batty, further elucidates the arrogance of obsession as he explains his plight, stating, ‘Quite an experience to live in fear, isnt it? Thats what it is to be a slave†. Batty provides insight into the failure of creators to understand the emotional development of the creation which leads to its isolation and fear, causing the ensuing destruction of the ‘natural order’. Frankenstein utilises the characterisation of Victor, ‘I have described myself as always having been imbued with a fervent longing to penetrate the secrets of nature’ to explore the obsession for knowledge that formed part of Shelley’s context. The text therefore reflects the influences of recent scientific development such as Galvanism and evolutionary thought. The comparative study of contrasting textual forms allows context to influence different interpretations of a text. Ridley Scott’s speculative science fiction film Blade Runner (1992) employs extensive mis-en-scene to subvert the audience’s sense of setting and history-a suspension of belief- enabling contextually dependant perceptions of the film. The films’ setting reflects its context as it echoes the concept of imperfect vision that conceptualises the short-sightedness inherent in the pursuit of perfection. The film juxtaposes the seemingly inherent ethical pretexts of discovery with the scientific community that seeks to create a perfect race, thus Blade Runner’s scientific context becomes reminiscent of fascist Nazi Aryan ideology, IVF programs and the Human Genome project. Conversely Frankenstein utilises its sublime Swiss setting to increase the plausibility of the themes which allow them to resonate with audiences as they relate to the texts context. Contrasting textual form is used to highlight how the context of each text enables their concurrent themes to resonate and remain relevant to 21st century audiences. Distinctive contexts are accentuated through similar theme content. Frankenstein and Blade Runner similarly indicate that efforts to ‘defy’ the natural order are responsible for the enduring sense of misery and alienation that sustains the overall melancholic tone of both texts. Animal Imagery is used extensively within Blade Runner to reveal the primal nature of raw, native emotion of the ‘replicants’, a reflection of parental neglect which renders them incapable of understanding their emotions. Similarly Frankenstein juxtaposes the idyllic nature of childhood with the abandonment of parental responsibility to highlight the confusion behind the monsters ‘ugly’ exterior, therefore provide insight into creations’ place as the ultimate innocent of both texts. Frankenstein and Blade Runner establish the creations’ as the victims of both physical and emotional negligence who ultimately confront their creator to correct the flaw which isolates them from the world. Frankenstein and Blade Runner similarly utilise content to highlight the creations as the source of destruction to reveal the true nature of monstrosity, the senseless creators. The pursuit of knowledge at the expense of a moral framework is identified as the creators’ ultimate fatal flaw. As the creations of both texts reflect upon and highlight their unnatural qualities, they reveal how their creators can no longer attain the sublime. Victor highlights his exile from the sublime as he recounts how his actions and subsequent inaction ‘deprives the soul both of hope and fear’ contributing to his demise. Frankenstein and Blade Runner similarly evoke a development of critical literacy and knowledge of genre at a macro level that enables distinctive contexts to gain prominence and influence the understanding or interpretation of their respective genres as a whole. The contextualisation of Frankenstein and Blade Runner is used to provide insight into the reception of texts as it challenges the contemporary values of the audience. Frankenstein draws parallels with Greek mythology as it establishes Victor as a modern Prometheus while also addressing elements of Jewish mysticism as the ‘monster’ exhibits qualities similar to the golem of Prague. The text is also reminiscent of Godwin and Wollstonecraft, however, is inherently less optimistic about society’s realistically attainable level of perfection, both physically and economically. In stark contrast, Blade Runner addresses perfection as achievable in a commercial sense ‘commerce is our goal here at Tyrell’ however as Deckard states ‘nobody is perfect’ he highlights the shortcomings of forgoing the moral obligations inherent in the pursuit of commerce which ultimately enable an evaluation of humanities moral boundaries. Blade Runner pays homage to the representation (particularly through film and television) of the 1950’s detective film-noir to reveal a rendition of post-modern expressionism. The reflection of commerce as a postmodern cultural imperative establishes the relationship between socio-economic status and pastiche consumption. Consequently, humanity is ‘created’ and traded with this ‘transformation of everything into commodity’ (Byers, 1990) becoming a reflection of the context of Blade Runner following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the economic strength of the United States during the films production. In essence the distinctive context of Frankenstein and Blade Runner reflects the interpretation and perception of the genre, textual form and content over time. The comparative study of these distinctive contrasting contexts allows audiences to reflect on the enduring power of parental and moral responsibility, deliberate action or inaction and the features that define humanity. The key reflections in which the audience understands how they are positioned by composers as a result of their context is especially important in allowing moral assessments throughout the text. Frankenstein and Blade Runner are two texts who successfully explore the nature in which humans interpret their humanity as a response to a contextualised stimulus. Blade Runner ultimately reveals the establishment of emotional understanding as a definitive characteristic of being human, while incidentally Frankenstein explores the features of humanities collective consciousness which enable an individual to belong through emotional dependence. The comparative study of Frankenstein and Blade Runner allows audiences gain a further understanding into the way contexts are accentuated through assessments of conceptualised fiction which explore the themes and issues which forms the unique identity of humanity.

English Traves Essay Example for Free

English Traves Essay Plagiarism is one of the most important issues that students have to face in their academic lives. If they are found guilty of committing plagiarism in their works, they can face serious consequences like failure or expulsion from the school. As such, it is important that they learn how to properly cite and acknowledge the works that they lift from other authors and sources. The reading indicates that anything that is borrowed from another work or author must be cited. â€Å"The only types of information that do not require acknowledgment are common knowledge, facts widely available in many sources, well-known quotations, or material you created or gathered yourself † (Author, Year, p. 747). Students must be able to distinguish these things so that they do not make the mistake of plagiarizing. To avoid plagiarism, all they have to remember is to acknowledge anything that they did not write or come up with. There are several ways to document and acknowledge other writers’ works including the Modern Language Association (MLA) and the American Psychological Association (APA). These documentation styles allow writers, whether students or professionals, to avoid being accused of plagiarism. Another way to avoid plagiarism is to try writing a piece of work without using any sources. Students should learn how to write their papers using their own thoughts, ideas, and words. Original work is always better to present although some instructors do require their students to perform research so that they would learn more about a particular subject. It should be remembered that no writer wants his or her work to be borrowed and not be acknowledged for his or her effort. In addition, students need to realize that it is better to learn how to cite their sources than suffer the consequences of being accused of plagiarism. Reference Author. (Year). Title. Place of publication: Publisher.

Industry analysis and market trends for Vodafone

Industry analysis and market trends for Vodafone Vodafone PLC is one of the worlds largest mobile communications companies by revenue, operating across the globe providing a wide range of communications services. The companys vision is to be the communications leader in an increasingly connected world. Vodafone was formed in 1984 as a subsidiary of Racal Electronics PLC. Then known as Racal Telecom Limited, approximately 20% of the companys capital was offered to the public in October 1988. It was fully demerged from Racal Electronics PLC and became an independent company in September 1991, at which time it changed its name to Vodafone Group PLC. Following its merger with AirTouch Communications, Inc. (AirTouch), the company changed its name to Vodafone AirTouch PLC on 29 June 1999 and, following approval by the shareholders in General Meeting, reverted to its former name, Vodafone Group PLC, on 28 July 2000. (History Vodafone.2010 [Online]). Group highlights for the 2010 financial year: Financial Highlights: Total revenue of  £44.5 billion, up to 8.4% with improving trends in most markets through the year. Adjusted operating profit of  £11.5 billion, a 2.5% decrease in a recessionary environment. Data revenue exceeded  £4 billion for the first time and is now 10% of service revenue.  £1 billion cost reduction programme delivered a year ahead of the schedule; further  £1 billion programme now underway. Final dividend per share of 5.65 pence, resulting in a total for the year of 8.31 pence, up 7%. Higher dividends supported by  £7.2 billion of free cash flow, an increase of 26.5%. Operational Highlights: Vodafone is one of the worlds largest mobile communication companies by revenue with 341.1 million proportionate mobile customers, up 12.7% during the year 2010. Improved performance in emerging markets with increasing revenue market share in India, Turkey and South Africa during the year 2010. Expanded fixed broadband costumer base to 5.6 million, up 1 million during the year 2010. Comprehensive Smartphone range, including the iPhone, Blackberry Bold and Samsung H1. Launch of Vodafone 360, a new internet service for the mobile and Internet. High speed mobile broadband network with peak speeds of up to 28.8 Mbps. (Vodafone Group 2010 Annual Report, p. 1) Chairmans Statement: The company continues to deliver strong cash generation, is well positioned to benefit from economic recovery and looks to the future with confidence Sir John Bond Chairman, Vodafone Chief Executives Review: In a challenging economic environment our financial results exceeded our guidance on all measures; we increased our commercial focus, delivered our cost reduction targets ahead of schedule and maintained strong capital investment levels. Victorio Colao Chief Executive, Vodafone Telecommunication Industry At a glance: The telecommunication industry has grown rapidly in size to provide essential services that facilitate a fundamental human need to communicate. There are 4.7 billion mobile customers across the globe with growth around 20% per annum over the last three years. Vodafone is a leading company with a 7% share of the global market. The majority of customers are in emerging markets such as India and China. In contrast growth has been more muted in developed regions such as Europe which are relatively mature. ( Vodafone Group 2010 Annual Report, p. 4) On-going competitive and regulatory pressures have contributed to significant reductions in mobile prices which are being partly offset by higher mobile usage. Competition in the telecommunications industry is intense. Consumers have a large choice of communication offers from established mobile and the fixed line operators. The combinations of competition and regulatory pressures have contributed to a 17% per annum decline in the average price per minute across their global network over the last three years. (Vodafone Group 2010 Annual Report, p. 4) Major Trends: The mobile industry continues to evolve rapidly, driven by new source of revenue, raising Smartphone proliferation and new technologies. Services: Around 80% of our service revenue comes from traditional voice and messaging services. The remaining 20% stems from the faster growing areas of mobile data and fixed broadband. (Vodafone Group 2010 Annual Report, p. 5) Network and product evaluation: This industry is undergoing significant technological change, with faster download speeds and product innovation improving the customer experience. They have been a pioneer in a range of new products. These include high speed mobile broadband for Internet and email access and femtocells to enhance customers indoor 3G signals via their household broadband connection. (Vodafone Group 2010 Annual Report, p. 5) Market Trends: If we observe and study the market trends in Europe alone, the trends seems to be improving continuously in Service Revenue, Enterprise Service Revenue, volumes in outgoing voice and data revenue. Vodafone demonstrates a strong economic stability in terms of revenue growth. Major Competitors: According to research by London-based firm IRS, competencies are most often used in: Performance management/appraisal. Personal-development planning. Management training and development. Job descriptions. Role specifications. Management selection. (Sue Dewhurst and Liam FitzPatrick, 2007, How to develop outstanding internal communications, pp: 14.) Vodafone PLC got many a few core competitors and the competency can be measured in terms of marketing strategy, revenue or the services it offer. Here, we are considering three core competitors as Virgin Group, British Telecommunications PLC and O2 Group. Lets throw some light on these companies to know more about the financial and market status. About British Telecom Group PLC: BT (British Telecom) Group PLC is operating in more than 170 countries, is one of the leading providers of communication solutions and services. Their principal activities include networked IT services, local, national and international telecommunications services, and higher value broadband and Internet products and services. (Our Company BT.2010 [Online]) BT Group PLC is listed as BT.A in London Stock Exchange. About Virgin Group: Virgin Group is a leading branded venture capital organization and it is one of the worlds most recognized and respected brands. The Virgin Group was started in 1970 by Sir Richard Branson, which has gone on to grow very successful businesses in sectors ranging from mobile telephony to transportation, travel, financial services, media, music and fitness. (About Us Virgin. 2010. [Online]) Virgin Group is listed as VMED in London Stock Exchange. About O2 Group: O2 Group, also known as Telefà ³nica O2 UK Limited, is a leading provider of mobile and broadband services to consumers and businesses in the UK. O2 is the leader in non-voice services, including texts, media messaging, games, music and video, as well as data connections via GPRS, HSDPA, 3G and WLAN. O2 UK is part of the Telefà ³nica O2 Europe group which comprises integrated fixed/mobile businesses in the UK, Ireland, Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia all of which use O2 as their consumer brand. Recently, O2 has established the Tesco Mobile joint venture business in the UK and Ireland. O2 is a completely owned subsidiary of Telefà ³nica S.A. (O2 UK History Telefà ³nica O2 UK Limited. 2010. [Online]). O2 Group is listed as TCEZ in London Stock Exchange.

Mandatory Uniforms in Public Schools Essay -- Papers Argumentative

Mandatory Uniforms in Public Schools Do you want equality among students in your child's school? Do you want less violence within your child's school? Would you like your daughter to concentrate more on her schoolwork and less on what name brand jeans she is wearing? All this is possible with mandatory uniform policies in public school districts. School uniforms may seem outdated for some people, but in many cases they can improve school spirit, attendance and student behavior. According to The Humanist magazine, former President Bill Clinton's 1996 State of the Union Address called for all 16,000 school districts in the country to adopt a uniform policy. The President stated, "If it means that teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear uniforms" (qtd in Wilkens, screen 1) The public school district in Long Beach, California was the first to take up the mandatory school uniform policy. The school district reported drasti c decrease in violence, discipline problems, as well as higher test scores after one year of implementing the new policy (Wilkens, screen 1). Although students feel that wearing uniforms to school stifles individual expression and creativity, mandatory uniforms in public schools promote a positive learning environment because it creates equality among all students, it decreases violence, and students can focus on schoolwork instead of their clothing. Students along with some parents dispute that mandatory uniform policies within public schools are unconstitutional. They feel that mandatory uniforms in public schools violate the First Amendment of the Constitution, Freedom of Expression. The First Amendment w... ...com*. Marchant, Valerie. "Dress for Success: It looks as if uniforms and dress codes may well make a difference." Time 13 Sept 1999: C6+. Infotrac. OSU-Okc Lib., Oklahoma City.23 Feb 2001 *http://www.infotrac.galegroup.com*. Renstrom, Peter. Constitutional Rights Sourcebook. Santa Barbara: Dimensions, 1999. "Uniform Improvements." Psychology Today Sept 1999: 14. Infotrac. OSU-Okc Lib., Oklahoma City.23 Feb 2001 *http://www. infotrac.galegroup .com*. "Uniforms Rule: This fall, dress codes are an increasingly popular remedy for all that's wrong with American public schools. Do they deliver?" Newsweek 4 Oct 1999:72. Infotrac. OSU-Okc Lib., Oklahoma City.27 Feb 2001 *http:// www.infotrac.galegroup.com*. Wilkins, Julia. "School Uniforms." The Humanist Mar/Apr 1999: 19-22. Infotrac. OSU-Okc Lib., Oklahoma City.23 Feb 2001 *http://www.infotrac .galegroup.com*.

Biography of Andrew Carnegie Essay -- Andrew Carnegie Management Wealt

Biography of Andrew Carnegie Andrew Carnegie was born into a poor working class family living in the town of Dunfermline, Scotland, in 1835. His father operated a small hand looming business located in the family home. The Carnegies was literate, well read, and active in the politics of the day. It was a time of repression of the Scottish worker by the Government, the employers, and the culture. Rebellious in thought as well as actively participating in protests was part of the Carnegie family life style. He was exposed to all of Scotland’s dramatic portrayal of Scottish Heroes. He learned the poetry and songs that were filled with the heroics of the underdog and their fight for equality. Andrew Carnegie’s mother was the strong parent in the family. She protected her two sons from associating with any corrupting values. Andrew said, "Yes, mother would have taken her two boys, one under each arm, and perished with them then they should mingle with low company in their extreme youth. There was not a prouder family in the land. Anything low, mean, deceitful, shifty, course, underhand, or gossipy was foreign to the heroic soul [mother]". Andrew idealized his mother, his country and its heritage, and the struggle for fair treatment of the worker. The Carnegie family left Scotland when Andrew was 13, and came to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the urging of his two aunts. His mother was the behind the move and she continued to be a motivator, supporter, and controller of Andrew and his personal interests for the rest of her life. Carnegie arrived in America in 1848, and found the state of official social equality he had been searching for. Although the worker had not gained equality in living and working conditions, at least the laws of this government promoted its attainment. He had been filled with the idealism of a radical reformer in Scotland, but in America he quickly became involved with his own climb to success. His greatest characteristic was his ability to take advantage of any opportunity that was offered to him. His first opportunity to advance was his promotion from a factory bobbin boy to writing entries into his employer’s accounts. At 15, he grabbed at the chance to leave the factory for a job as a telegraph messenger. Andrew made it his concern to learn the name of every business owner in the city. Recognizing these men on the street shortened... ... . . . the ultimate source of Carnegie’s consuming ambition remains elusive. Ultimately human behavior results from the way in which an individual accommodates himself to the contradictions and ambiguities with in himself and his society.. . . . Andrew Carnegie had a personal set of paradoxes. The best his biographers can do is to designate the pressures and document the response . . . . In himself Carnegie knew kindness and cruelty, vanity and shame, generosity and greed, doubt and confidence (Baker 27). Carnegie cannot be understood even with reading all of his writings. He came from a very poor childhood, worked in sweat factories, and yet in his later life, these memories were obliterated by his powerful drive for power and wealth. Swetnam believes that, "Carnegie developed a philosophy of his own. It was made up of his early religious and political training, rugged individualism, desire for mastery and achievement, greed, generosity, and a conviction that the world-and especially those close to him-needed his ideas and guidance. No small element was his struggle of conscience over having indulged in what in 1868 he had alluded to as the ‘worship of the golden calf’" ( 67). Biography of Andrew Carnegie Essay -- Andrew Carnegie Management Wealt Biography of Andrew Carnegie Andrew Carnegie was born into a poor working class family living in the town of Dunfermline, Scotland, in 1835. His father operated a small hand looming business located in the family home. The Carnegies was literate, well read, and active in the politics of the day. It was a time of repression of the Scottish worker by the Government, the employers, and the culture. Rebellious in thought as well as actively participating in protests was part of the Carnegie family life style. He was exposed to all of Scotland’s dramatic portrayal of Scottish Heroes. He learned the poetry and songs that were filled with the heroics of the underdog and their fight for equality. Andrew Carnegie’s mother was the strong parent in the family. She protected her two sons from associating with any corrupting values. Andrew said, "Yes, mother would have taken her two boys, one under each arm, and perished with them then they should mingle with low company in their extreme youth. There was not a prouder family in the land. Anything low, mean, deceitful, shifty, course, underhand, or gossipy was foreign to the heroic soul [mother]". Andrew idealized his mother, his country and its heritage, and the struggle for fair treatment of the worker. The Carnegie family left Scotland when Andrew was 13, and came to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the urging of his two aunts. His mother was the behind the move and she continued to be a motivator, supporter, and controller of Andrew and his personal interests for the rest of her life. Carnegie arrived in America in 1848, and found the state of official social equality he had been searching for. Although the worker had not gained equality in living and working conditions, at least the laws of this government promoted its attainment. He had been filled with the idealism of a radical reformer in Scotland, but in America he quickly became involved with his own climb to success. His greatest characteristic was his ability to take advantage of any opportunity that was offered to him. His first opportunity to advance was his promotion from a factory bobbin boy to writing entries into his employer’s accounts. At 15, he grabbed at the chance to leave the factory for a job as a telegraph messenger. Andrew made it his concern to learn the name of every business owner in the city. Recognizing these men on the street shortened... ... . . . the ultimate source of Carnegie’s consuming ambition remains elusive. Ultimately human behavior results from the way in which an individual accommodates himself to the contradictions and ambiguities with in himself and his society.. . . . Andrew Carnegie had a personal set of paradoxes. The best his biographers can do is to designate the pressures and document the response . . . . In himself Carnegie knew kindness and cruelty, vanity and shame, generosity and greed, doubt and confidence (Baker 27). Carnegie cannot be understood even with reading all of his writings. He came from a very poor childhood, worked in sweat factories, and yet in his later life, these memories were obliterated by his powerful drive for power and wealth. Swetnam believes that, "Carnegie developed a philosophy of his own. It was made up of his early religious and political training, rugged individualism, desire for mastery and achievement, greed, generosity, and a conviction that the world-and especially those close to him-needed his ideas and guidance. No small element was his struggle of conscience over having indulged in what in 1868 he had alluded to as the ‘worship of the golden calf’" ( 67).

Mt. St. Helens

Helene eruption affected Washington State's Economy On Sunday, May 18, 1980, at 8:AMA, Mat. SST. Helene erupted. Most people don't realize how the eruption affected our economy. It affected Washington's forestry / forest production, trade, transportation, topography, fisheries, and wildlife. Our Economy lost millions of dollars. Let's see how it affected our economy. First, let's start with forestry/forest production. This affected companies which had been logging. The companies had to cut back on logging while the blasted timber was being harvested.Although the lack of umber caused fluctuations In the market prices for logs, such variation were outweighed in large measures by the downward pressure on market prices generated by the depressed level of the economy. Also, the presence of the ash on the ground and on the logs presented serious problems in harvesting of the logs, and their processing into products. The ash, being gritty in nature, caused extensive wear on chain saws, chip per knives, and other cutting equipment, thus raising costs of logging and of manufacturing. Also, Washington being one of the three Pacific Northwest states plays a role in trade.Washington particularly is important for products like wheat, flour, lumber, and wood products. The main loss was the ash damage to crops like fruit trees, wheat, and barley. The trade for lumber and wood products also decreased from the loss of trees. Trade was also affected from transportation. Without transportation they couldn't send the exports. Transportation was damaged by ash fall, mudslides, floods, and the blast. As a result that damaged 63 miles of roads, about 25 bridges, and blocked the Columbia River. The highest of all the bridges in the National Forest Service Land damaged was a gig steel- girder.Also, nine bridges by the Tuttle River. The combination of damage to roads and bridges was about $1 12 million dollars, A result of Mat. SST. Helene blow was mudslides In the Tuttle and Cowlick Riv er. When the cowl flooded water lost speed as they mixed with the Tidal Columbia; they could no longer carry nearly as much sediment. Consequently, somewhere between 40 million and 60 million cubic yards of volcanic material entered the Columbia River. The Columbia River was blocked no longer than a week. Traffic resumed 5 days after the eruption. TheColumbia River ports were capable of normal operation no longer than a month after the eruption. The damage of the Columbia River created a loss of about 4 percent of all cargo that would have been otherwise passed through the ports in 1980. The Columbia River repairs were $44 million dollars but it was of relatively short duration. The landscape (or topography) of the area around Mat. SST. Helene was greatly affected by the eruption. The blast blew approximately 1. 5 cubic kilometers off the top of the were a major product of the eruption. Most of the north and south forks of the Tuttle River were destroyed.Many other rivers around the mountain, like the Green River and the Cowlick River, had increased silt and sediment deposited, and thus their capacity for water flow and navigation reduced. The second the blast played with the river system, it was serious. The immediate danger was flooding. The communities around the Cowlick and Tuttle River were threatened by the mudflows. Erosion was another danger. In the blast area the devastation was almost complete. The grounds were stripped of vegetation and the natural barriers to erosion were destroyed. Immediately after the blast there was evidence of erosion on the hillsides.As the lilies eroded, it increased the amount of soil and rock. As time went by, the soil and rock then entered into the rivers. The damaging effect of Mat. SST. Helene eruption to fisheries was substantial. It resulted primarily from mudflows and floods. The eruption adversely affected the entire Mat. SST. Helene drainage system. All of the fish in the Tuttle and in the Cowlick Rivers were kille d by the eruption. Salmon was the main fish impacted. The majority of them were the young salmon (about 400,000) that were on their way downstream at the time of the eruption. The fisheries estimated a loss of about 12 million Juvenile almond.The salmon losses included all the salmon from all the affected rivers at that time. The dredging of the ship channels in the Columbia and Cowlick Rivers was also believed to have killed many fish. Normally there was no dredging at that time because of the fish migration, but large scale dredging was carried out during the eruption. Fish in the Columbia River were affected by temperatures caused by the eruption. All hatcheries in the region had their costs increased as a result of the necessity of cleaning up the ash that had entered their systems. There was also a cost associated with moving fish from one location to another.The blast destroyed about 154 miles of trout streams and 26 lakes. The total cost of damage for fisheries was about $22 million dollars. Finally, not only did fish die but so did other wildlife. It was estimated by the Washington State Game Department that 1 ,551 ,OHO animals (not including the fish) died because of the eruption. Among the casualties there were about 5,250 elk, 6,000 deer, 200 bears, 100 mountain goats, and 15 cougars. The blast destroyed 195 square miles of habitat. Wildlife in ash-covered areas suffered some chronic health damage room the ash fall, but didn't become a widespread problem.Respiratory damage to grazing animals was a major concern, but it usually develops only after years of exposure to airborne dust, so it didn't seem likely. The ash did not appear to be harmful when ingested by grazing animals, but it could injure fish. The ash was extremely sharp and could severely lacerate gills, causing injury or death. The grand total for everything was about 1,213 million dollars. Washington's Economy was definitely affected by Mat. SST. Helene eruption. I hope this information helps you understand how the eruption affected our economy.

Nike’s Market Audit Essay

The marketing audit is a fundamental part of the marketing planning process. It is conducted not only at the beginning of the process, but also at a series of points during the implementation of the plan. The marketing audit considers both internal and external influences on marketing planning, as well as a review of the plan itself. Marketing Audit considers the basics of the marketing audit, and introduces a marketing audit checklist. The checklist is designed to answer the question, what is the current marketing situation? Marketing audit could be considered under three key headings: * The Internal Marketing Environment. * The External Marketing Environment. * A Review of the Current Marketing Plan. â€Å"Where is the business now? † is a core marketing question as it is concerned with how the business is performing in its marketplace. To answer this question one of the primary activities of the marketing function in a business is to undertake an audit of the market for the business. Once this question has been answered then the business can take decisions over setting and implementing their strategies to overcome the anticipated challenges. Now lets have a look at the way the companies, that had been selected previously to illustrate the Marketing mix, are conducting the Market Audit to achieve their goals†¦ Nike Nike operates its business within the sports footwear and apparel market. Originally designing and producing running shoes, their portfolio has broadened to include a wide range of sports and leisure wear. This is all endorsed by top sporting personalities and has gained a faithful reputation among them. Mission statement of Nike†¦ In its mission statement Nike expresses that it requires doing business in a responsible way, leading to sustainable financial growth. With the advances in technology, HR practices, the well informed and trained work force, there is very little left to differentiate organizations. Being seen to go further than the minimum required on social issues can attract and retain customers. This green cleansing attracts attention to the organization; they are viewed as caring and social responsible (Mullins, L. 2005). In a marketing research done by the company the following blemishes could be revealed. A report, on the business practices of Nike through its supply chain accused the organization of being involved in poor working conditions, violations of labor rights, low wages and harassment of its workforce. Nike takes these reports seriously. On the basis of the research findings the company has intensified the monitoring of its suppliers and right away did take actions and implemented to rectify the flaws. This is the importance of an Audit to a company to maintain its standards and the good reputation. * Internal Marketing Audit * Value chain Nike’s supply chain provides a clear view of the extent of the global nature of the company. Nike’s headquarters are in America; however, virtually all of its production takes place outside of the United States. Nike’s supply chain upstream begins with the materials used in the production of its products. Many of these materials used in production are available in the locations which the manufacturing takes place, but some specialized materials have to be imported to the manufacturing company. Now lets take a look at how they’ve overcome their challenges by getting the aid of an internal marketing audit considering two instances. Past options| Outsourcing of all production| Rationale| Reduced costs| Future Options| Outsource with stronger control| Rationale| Speed up reporting of any problems in production, the supply chain, the greater the distance the slower the reporting of problems| Critical Success Factor| Reduce problems associated with distance, i. e. quality, consistency and value| Change of Focus| Although still outsourcing, they would gain more control over production. | Past options| Target USA| Rationale| Demand and growth for footwear in the US was rapid. Future Options| Future option is to enter EU markets| Rationale| To expand into growing markets as US is near saturation. | Critical Success Factor| organic growth as well as by acquisition, also brand name, goodwill- therefore there is a match is CSF to succeed| Change of Focus| Maybe have to target marketing in a different way| * Portfolio analysis in current product (BCG Matrix) The BCG matrix method is based on the product life cycle theory that can be used to determine what priorities should be given in the product portfolio of a business unit. To ensure long-term value creation, a company should have a portfolio of products that contains both high-growth products in need of cash inputs and low-growth products that generate a lot of cash. It has 2 dimensions: market share and market growth. The basic idea behind it is that the bigger the market share a product has or the faster the product’s market grows the better it is for the company. Placing products in the BCG matrix results in 4 categories in a portfolio of a company: 1. Stars (high growth, high market share) use large amounts of cash and are leaders in the business so they should also generate large amounts of cash. * frequently roughly in balance on net cash flow. Through the BCG analysis for Nike, what has been revealed is that Nike is established within its markets, benefiting from economies of scale. And this places them in the Cash Cows category on the Matrix. Where the Cash cows market growth has slowed, and the products hold a fairly stable market share. * External Marketing Audit * Macro Environment PESTEL This will consider the influences of about six factors on the organization, both in the past and with future strategic plans. Following information could be gathered about Nike through a PESTEL analysis†¦ I. Political ) Striking dock workers b) Political unrest in the production countries.

Piagets Theory

Connor Taylor AP Psychology Mr. OG Piagets’s Theory: Cognitive Development Developmental psychology is the study of human growth and development which occurs throughout the entire lifespan. Cognitive development is the beginning to the ability to think and understand. Cognitive development focuses on child’s development of information processing, conceptual resources, perpetual skill, language learning, and other aspects of brain development. Piaget has four stages to his theory: Sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational. Much of the research has gone into understanding how a child imagines the world.In Piaget’s view, early cognitive development includes processes based upon actions and it later changes in mental operations. The first stage of Piaget’s theory lasts from birth until about age two, and it based upon the baby trying to make sense of the world. During the sensorimotor stage the child uses skills and abilities t hey were born with such as looking, sucking, grasping, and listening to learn more about the environment. Object permanence is a child’s understanding that objects are still there even though they cannot be seen or heard, and according to Piaget it is one of the most important.By 18 to 24 months children begin to develop symbols to represent events or objects in the world, and children begin to move towards understanding the world through mental operations rather than through just actions. The preoperational stage occurs between about the ages 2 and seven. One of the milestones at this period is language development. Piaget states that at this stage do not yet understand concrete logic and are unable to take the point of view of other people. Piaget’s focus on this stage is what children could not do yet.Children lack the knowledge that things look different to other people and that objects can change in appearance while still maintaining the same properties In the â⠂¬Å"Three Mountain Task† children almost always choose the scene showing their own view of the mountain image. Before the age of 5 Piaget found that not many children showed an understanding of conservation prior to the age of five, many children found that the cup filled higher contained more liquid, though they each had an equal amount. The concrete operational stage starts at about age 7 and continues approximately until age 11.During the concrete operational stage children begin a better understanding of mental operations. Children begin to think logically, but do have difficulty understanding hypothetical concepts. Children have trouble using general principle to determine the outcome of a specific event according to Piaget. Piaget states that one of the most important processes in this stage is reversibility, and being aware that things can be reversed. The last stage is operational stage, the operational stage lasts from about age 12 and lasts into adulthood. During thi s period people learn the ability to think about abstract concepts.Logical thought, deductive reasoning, and systematic planning are all developed during the operational stage. Deductive logic is the ability to use a general principle to determine a specific outcome, and Piaget thought that deductive logic was very important during the formal operational stage. You use deductive logic in something such as hypothetical situations, and is also very often required in science and math. Children at the formal operational stage are usually able to plan an organized approach to problem solving and quite quickly, unlike when they were younger and tested things in a trial and error type way.Piaget’s theory of cognitive development provided great detail in how a child’s mind acts throughout life from birth, sensorimotor stage, all the way to adulthood, formal operational stage, and for the most part I agree with him. In the early life of a child they don’t understand anyt hing and have to develop, and to start they must use tools they do know how to do, the ones the obtained since birth and they are essential to the growth of a child.As a child developing they gain knowledge by interacting with the world, and every time they understand something new it completely alters their world, something such as just knowing something is there just because you cant see it alters the whole way a child sees the world and alters their knowledge greatly. I agree with Piaget’s steps in cognitive development throughout childhood, demonstrates how children develop very well and make sense, I agree with Piaget.

Food Prices Essay

Why Did Global Food Prices Rise? For the last 25 years global food prices have been falling, driven by the increased productivity and output of the farm sector worldwide. In 2007, this came to an abrupt end as global food prices soared. By September 2007, the world price of wheat rose to over $400 a ton-the highest ever recorded and up from $200 a ton in May. The price of corn (maize) surged to $175 a ton, some 60 percent above its average for 2006. An index of food prices, adjusted for inflation, which The Economist magazine has kept since 1845, hit its highest level ever in December 2007. One explanation for rising food prices has been increased demand. The increased demand has been driven by greater food consumption in rapidly developing nations, most notably China and India. Rising consumption of meat, in particular, has driven up demand for grains; it takes eight kilograms of cereals to produce one kilogram of beef, so as demand for meat rises, consumption of grains by cattle surges. Farmers now feed 200 to250 million more tons of grain to their animals than they did 20 years ago, driving up grain prices. Then there is the issue of bio-fuel subsidies. Both the United States and the European Union have adopted policies to increase production of ethanol and bio-diesel in order to slow down global warming (both products are argued to produce fewer C02 emissions, although exactly how effective they are at doing this is actively debated). In 2000, around 15 million tons of American Corn was turned into ethanol; in 2007 the figure reached 85 million tons. To promote increased production, governments have given subsidies to farmers. In the United States subsidies amount to between $0. 29 and $0. 36 per litre of ethanol. In Europe the subsidies are as high as $1 a litre. Not surprisingly, the subsidies have created an incentive for farmers to plant more crops that can be turned into bio-fuels (primarily corn and soy beans). This has diverted land away from production of corn and soy for food, and reduced the supply of land devoted to growing crops that don’t receive bio-fuel subsidies, such as wheat. This highly subsidized source of demand seems to be having a dramatic effect on demand for corn and soy beans. In 2007, fur example, the U. S.increase in demand for corn-based ethanol accounted for more than half of the global increase in demand for corn. What is complicating the situation is that high tariffs are shutting out producers of alternative products that can be turned into bio fuels, most notably sugar cane, from the U. S. and EU markets by high tariffs. Brazil, the world’s most efficient producer of sugar cane, confronts import tariffs of at least 25 percent by value in the United States and 50 percent in the European Union, raising the price of imported sugar cane and making it uncompetitive with subsidized com and soy beans. This is unfortunate because sugar cane is widely seen as a more environmentally friendly raw material for bio-fuels than either corn or soy. Sugar cane uses less fertilizer than corn or soy and produces a higher yield per hectare in terms of its energy content. Ethanol is also produced from what used to be considered a waste produce, the fibre removed from the cane during processing. If policy makers have their way, however, the situation may get even worse. Plans in both the United States and the European Union call for an increase in the production of bio-fuels, but neither political entity has agreed to reduce tariff barriers on sugar cane or to remove the trade distorting subsidies given to those who produce corn and soy for bio-fuels. Brazil is not sitting on the sidelines; in 2007 it asked the World Trade Organization to probe U. S. subsidies to corn farmers for ethanol production. Supplementary Reading article-Rising global food prices threaten to increase poverty. 2 Rising Global Food Prices Threaten to Increase Poverty by Kata Fustos. (April 2011) Global food prices have been rising, threatening to reach record levels in the coming months if current trends continue. Growing world demand due to increasing world population and shifting consumption patterns, and lower supplies partly due to bad weather raised the World Bank’s food price index by 15 percent between October 2010 and January 2011. 1 The index increased by 29 percent overall between February 2010 and February 2011. In January, the Food Price Index of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) was at its highest level since tracking began in 1990. 2 While not all countries are affected equally, the recent volatility is particularly alarming in regions where people spend more than half of their income on food. Global Food Prices Surge to Record Levels, Hurting the Poor in Low- and Middle-Income Countries A combination of unfavorable weather patterns around the world and uncertainty in the quality of wheat harvests in China has affected the global food supply. Record heat and drought in 2010 in the former Soviet Union sharply reduced wheat production and dealt a shock to global wheat supplies. Extreme dry weather in Brazil—a major food exporter—contributed greatly to worldwide deficits of sugar, soybeans, and maize. Devastating rain and floods in Australia damaged wheat crops and reduced the yields of sugar harvests. Additionally, a severe drought in China threatens the harvest of the country’s wheat crop and has prompted the FAO to issue a special alert, characterizing the current situation as â€Å"potentially a serious problem. â€Å"3 For decades, China has relied mostly on its own domestic grain production and was absent from the global grain market. However, if the drought destroys a significant portion of the harvest and China has to import grain to fulfill domestic demand, the impact can shock the world market and cause even sharper increases in global prices. As a result of China’s buying power, it can outbid others in the global market, and secure supplies for its own population. An expanding world population, greater reliance on crops as biofuels, and shifting diets continue to increase the collective demand for food, making the gap between supply and demand even wider. Since price volatility and growing demand are likely to persist, â€Å"we need global action to ensure we do a better job of feeding the hungry before we face the future challenges of feeding the expected 9 billion people in the world in 2050,† said Robert Zoellick, World Bank president. 4 According to the World Bank index, global sugar prices reached a 30-year high in the beginning of 2011, after increasing 12 percent since January 2010. Edible oil prices have risen 73 percent since June 2010. Among grains, the price of wheat has increased the most, more than doubling between June 2010 and January 2011. The price of maize has been affected by the surge in the wheat and oil markets and also jumped about 73 percent during the second half of 2010. Other food items that contribute to dietary diversity, such as vegetables and beans, have also experienced large price increases. Prices do not rise at the same rate in all countries; domestic markets are affected based on how well governments are 3 able to shield their population from global price surges through the use of subsidies, import taxes, and increased domestic production. Figure 1 Change in World Commodity Prices, January 2010 to January 2011 Source: World Bank, â€Å"Commodity Price Data (Pink Sheet),† accessed at http://siteresources. worldbank. org/INTDAILYPROSPECTS/Resources/Pnk_0411. pdf, on April 1, 2011. Although food prices had been increasing for seven consecutive months by February 2011, the price of all items had not grown at the same pace (see Figure 1). According to the World Bank’s Food Price Watch, this differentiates the current situation from the price surges of 2008, when food riots broke out across the developing world. Meat prices have stayed relatively stable over the past year. Following good harvests in exporting countries, the global price of rice was actually lower at the end of 2010 than in the beginning of the year, and it remains 70 percent below its 2008 peak. Therefore, rice provides a more affordable alternative grain to the poor and its accessibility has prevented more people from sinking into poverty and undernourishment. At the same time, some Asian economies have seen sharp increases in rice prices. In Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Indonesia—all high rice consumption countries—domestic rice prices increased over 30 percent in the past year. 5 Soaring food prices disproportionately hurt the poor in developing countries. This is especially true in regions where people spend a majority of their income on food and rely on a specific food product. Although some farmers and food producers are benefitting from greater profits, the net effect of higher prices is a rise in the number of the poor. The World Bank estimates that an additional 44 million people have fallen into poverty in the developing world as a result of higher food prices. Overall, the number of chronically hungry people began to climb again after a brief decrease to 925 million in 2010 (see Figure 2). According 4 to Zoellick, â€Å"the trends towards the 1 billion are worrisome. Global food prices are rising to dangerous levels and threaten tens of millions of poor people around the world. â€Å"6 Figure 2 Distribution of Undernourished People in the World in 2010 (in Millions) Source: FAO Statistics Division, accessed at www. fao. org/economic/ess/en/, on April 7, 2011. India Especially Affected by High Prices Food prices are rising faster in India than in other large economies. As the country’s population continues to grow and middle class incomes rise, there is increasing pressure on the government to provide food for the entire country. Despite rapid economic growth over the past decade, India still struggles to feed its population: According to the 2005/2006 National Family Health Survey, 40 percent of children below the age of 3 were underweight and 45 percent were stunted. 7 Lack of investment has kept domestic agricultural productivity low as manual labor remains the dominant source of domestic food production. In 2008/2009, agriculture employed about 52 percent of the labor force, but only made up 13 percent of India’s GDP. 8 Farming and agriculture remain greatly inefficient and inadequate for feeding the country’s 1. 2 billion people. Low production and an unusually wet summer in 2010 contributed to the current domestic food inflation that reached a 16 percent annual rate in January 2011. This composite figure masks the rise in the price of some staples, such as onion and garlic, which rose by 71 percent during the past year. The sharp increase is most alarming for the 41 percent of the population in India who live on $1. 25 or less a day and spend a majority of their income on food, as even basic items are becoming unaffordable. 9 The government is responding to the current crisis by providing heavy subsidies for agricultural production and by importing increasing amounts of some staples, such as lentils and beans, to ensure their availability. It has also put export restrictions on certain products to keep them for domestic consumption. 10 These policies can only provide temporary solutions, however: Long-term investment is required in agricultural research to improve the quality of seeds, irrigation techniques, and modernize other production components. 115. References 1. World Bank, â€Å"Food Price Watch† (February 2011), accessed at www.worldbank. org/foodcrisis/food_price_watch_report_feb2011. html, on Feb. 17, 2011. 2. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), â€Å"Global Food Price Monitor† (Feb. 3, 2011), accessed at www. fao. org/giews/english/gfpm/GFPM_02_2011. pdf, on Feb. 16, 2011. 3. FAO Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture, â€Å"Special Alert: A Severe Winter Drought in the North China Plain May Put Wheat Production at Risk† (Feb. 8, 2011). 4. World Bank, â€Å"Food Security Fears Rise Along With Prices† (April 2011), accessed at http://go. worldbank. org/VCXQZNWRA0, on April 7, 2011. 5. World Bank, â€Å"Food Price Watch† and FAO, â€Å"Global Food Price Monitor. † 6. â€Å"Food Price Hike Drives 44 Million People into Poverty,† World Bank Press Release No: 2011/333/PREM (Feb. 15, 2011), accessed at http://go. worldbank. org/OFGV8BZN20, on Feb. 17, 2011. 7. National Family Heath Survey, â€Å"Key Indicators for India† (2005-06), accessed at www. nfhsindia. org/pdf/India. pdf, on Feb. 16, 2011. 8. Ministry of Finance, Government of India, â€Å"Economic Survey 2010-11† (February 2011). 9. UNDP, â€Å"Multidimensional Poverty Index,† accessed at http://hdr. undp. org/en/media/HDR_2010_EN_Table5_reprint. pdf, on Feb. 17, 2011. 10. Corey Flintoff, â€Å"Food Price Surge Puts Strain on India’s Poor,† NPR (Jan. 6, 2011). 11. Renuka Mahadevan, â€Å"Productivity Growth in Indian Agriculture: The Role of Globalization and Economic Reform† Asia-Pacific Development Journal, Vol. 10, No. 2, December 2003. Case Discussion Questions 1. Who benefits from government policies to (a) promote production of ethanol and (b) place tariff barriers on imports of sugar cane? Who suffers as a result of these policies? 2. One estimate suggests that if food prices rise by one-third, they will reduce living standards in rich countries by about 3 percent, but in very poor ones by about 20 percent. According to the International Food Policy Research Institute, unless policies change, cereal prices will rise by 10 to 20 percent by 2015 , and the expansion of bio fuel production could reduce calorie intake by 2 to 8 percent by 2020 in many of the world ‘s poorest nations. Should rich countries do anything about this potential problem? If so, what? 3. How might a policy of free trade in the United States and European Union cause food prices to drop? Should the United States eliminate the subsidies it pays to corn farmers? How might a free trade policy facilitate the efforts of the United Nations’ World Food Programme? 4. Consider the social implications of trade policy that is pro-producer. Is such a policy ethical when considered from the perspective of non-producers? What are the drawbacks of following a policy designed to protect the interests of certain groups within a country? 5. Protectionism in agriculture has been a central issue for the World Trade Organization in recent years. Given the current implications of the rising costs of food for the world’s poor, should the World Trade Organization do more?

Bharti Enterprises

Ensuring that the look and feel of the store is as per guidelines/standards Ensuring/ reporting Inventory and Stock availability as per the norms to prevent stock-outs Provide suggestions /feedback to improve store productivity People Development / Team Management: Acting as a mentor and trainer for store staff To ensure daily roistering briefing to inbound outbound store staff Customer Experience: Manage staff allocation based on demand at point in time Personally step in to handle demanding customers Provide suggestions for improvements in CE 4. A. On Diversity and Cultural spread in Africa, As Africa consists of 53 countries, to operate successfully it is important to understand the dynamics of each country, including differences in culture, language and especially regulations. Bharti would do well to put in place as few expatriates as possible and have most of its top management from Africa. b. On Infrastructure sharing and cost / capital issues, The biggest driver of network sharing will be the shift in approach of the biggest operators, who had been unwilling to share network to sustain competitive advantage. There is visible network sharing in the markets of Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa, and that this is likely to pick up in other markets. c. On Bharti Airtel’s Minute Factor Model, Network sharing and IT outsourcing would help operators bring down costs. While costs could trend down, however they will be higher than in India because of some of the structural costs caused by power shortage and poor infrastructure. 5. Bharti Airtel has a history of making first moves and emerging as the winner just because of that. This is what built the company’s success in India, where it remains the top MNO and second-largest fixed-line operator. In fact, thanks to the massive market it serves at home, at the time it acquired the Zain portfolio in March 2010 Airtel was reckoned to be the fifth largest mobile operator in the world on a proportional subscriber basis, putting it behind the likes of China Mobile, Vodafone Group, American Movil and Telefonica, but ahead of China Unicom. As has been widely covered for over a year now, Airtel has been looking at Africa as a new growth market. While it has a deal with Vodafone for the Channel Islands, Africa is the only other territory outside the Indian subcontinent (including Bangladesh and Sri Lanka) that the company has entered. The commonalities are compelling: similar markets, needs and infrastructure. The realities on the ground are somewhat more challenging: logistics, legislative compliance and serious local competition being foremost. The logistics of infrastructure in Africa are an equal challenge for all MNOs. That is a given. Where Airtel might have been overly optimistic is in hoping its Africa model would run similarly to its success in India, based on a first-to-market approach and having some leverage to overcome legislative obstacles. Unfortunately, while Airtel has a 30-year history of being first in India (with pushbutton phones, cordless phones and then mobile), they were not first in Africa. There were major EU, Middle East and South African players there ahead of them. In fact, Airtel’s African expansion is largely thanks to its takeover of Kuwait’s Zain mobile operations in 15 countries. This was a beachhead, not a conquest. Zain only held dominant market share in a few countries. Going up against market leaders such as MTN of South Africa, Airtel applied a strategy of extensive cost cutting. This followed on what it achieved in India, cutting a deal with Ericsson for per-minute fees (rather than upfront payment) that enabled very low-cost call rates from the outset. Airtel has an all-Africa, five-year deal in place with Ericsson for network management that offers similar advantages. Elsewhere, Airtel is engaged with Nokia Siemens Networks and Huawei, not keeping all its eggs in one basket, of course. As a Plan B, possibly following on the indecisive outcome of Airtel’s low-cost invasion, the company has previously been negotiating a takeover of or (maybe) a joint venture with MTN itself. How this putative deal is described depends on which company is talking. This has been going on for some four years without a definitive ending. Even if it never happens, it is a signpost of just what Airtel would consider to get its Africa operations truly established.

This article, titled On Being an Atheist, was written by H. J Essay

This article, titled On Being an Atheist, was written by H. J. McCloskey - Essay Example While any person pursues earnest efforts for the purposes of ensuring pursuit of law of Karma that only with limited faith in God entails good results. The case for presentation of arguments is based on comments that would amplify the light of approach on various aspects of building up points to ponder. It is also applicable whether or not it is essential that the following of God should be pursued and to what to extent. Sometimes in too much pursuit of God an impediment is caused for not establishing belief and being practical for getting the desired results. The time should be balanced between prayer and actual achievement of results by putting in the desired level of efforts in accomplishment of work. (McCloskey, 1968) The cosmological arguments as the name stands amplifies equivalent to the philosophy for building up an argument that would derive the existence of a world order. This accentuates spelling out an argument for an illustrious connotation. This exemplifies honorable virtues for bringing about a grand finale to the ensemble that is replete with abundance of pursuits. The awakening that would mastermind myriads of aspects that opens up vistas for sharp acumen for not withdrawing relentless pursuits. The endeavor is on the threshold of a balanced approach in philosophy as well as achievement oriented magnificence of an approach that is commendable. The author McCloskey (1964) is created with an emphasis on various aspects for creating an ambience that would exonerate the various awakenings in the process of healthy achievement that would ensure happiness. The capability would accentuate an approach that is thorough with a knowledge enriched with myriads of ideas invoking knowledge explosi on in the right perspective and direction. It should be ensured that an attraction bereft of minute analysis invoking knowledge that would exemplify the performance for ensuring a positive thrust emboldening wisdom. A balance of mind and

Internship Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Internship Paper - Essay Example This got me thinking that if as a country we could bring back industrialization to the US, rather than act as a service based country, then we could create more jobs. I also considered the counterarguments against this. Lower costs associated with outsourcing are probably the prime benefit that a company could get from outsourcing of business (Greaver 65). The company gets the work done at only a fraction of what it would have had to invest locally, all the while receiving products of high quality. Due to the difference in standard of living as well as pay that exist between the US and such countries as Mexico and China, outsourcing ensures lower labour costs. By outsourcing to these countries, companies can be guaranteed at least 60% savings on costs. Another advantage of outsourcing is the distribution of risk. When a company outsources certain functions, they also do away or distribute the risk inherent in running the particular function (Greaver 65). An example: if a company feels that management of the payroll is claiming operational money and time, then it can outsource the function to a service provider. Outsourcing also improves the quality of customer service. Outsourcing allows the company service their clients faster, decrease turnaround time, and give better quality. It allows the company to achieve better people management (Greaver 66). Since outsourcing ensures the necessary skills needed to run particular functions are taken care of, the company achieves greater flexibility in key resource investment. Instead of working toward hiring for back office operations, the company focuses on acquiring resources for core competency growth. Outsourcing to China has the advantage of time zone difference. While business is closed in the United States, Chinese operations could get work done. This is beneficial for industries which provide all hour customer support (Greaver 67). With the struggles of the US

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Directed - Research Paper Example president has the authority and powers to remove marshals prior to the expiration of their terms, their appointment must be confirmed first by the Senate. Since the early years of America’s independence, the marshals have been the federal court’s chief law officers (Miller, 2008). They direct the activities of about 4,000 personnel and officers stationed at over the 350 locations across the United States and the country’s territories. It should be noted that even after the establishment of over 50 specialized federal law enforcement agencies during the twentieth century, the US Marshall Services retained the broadest authority and jurisdiction (Green, 1999). Since the earliest period of America’s independence, they have served as the civil authority instruments for all the three organs of the government. They have been involved in most of the major historical events in the history of the United States (Dautrich, 2010). The United States Marshall Services is mandated to carry out a number of responsibilities within their jurisdictions (Collins, 1998). The primary responsibility of the service is to provide protection and support for the federal courts that include security for over 700 judicial facilities and over 2,000 magistrates and federal judges, in addition to the trial participants like attorneys and jurors. Recent years have witnessed increased responsibility because of the dramatic rise of threats against the judiciary members. The Marshall Services also involves operations such as the Federal Witness Security Program whose mandate is to ensure that the safety of endangered government witnesses is guaranteed (U.S. Marshals Service, 2013). They maintain transport and custody of thousands of federal prisoners every year, apprehend majority of federal fugitives, and execute arrest and court orders warrant. In addition, they manage, seize, and sell property that has been forfeited to the gover nment by criminals such as drug traffickers and help the

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Reading - Assignment Example This is the ability to know the problems that the customers or clients are facing and making effort to improve the areas that will provide solutions to their problems. Another key element of an innovative organization is implementation. It is the organization being able to put suggestions and ideas into effect in order to solve the underlying problems. A creative person or creative group may possess the following traits; being original by resisting the normal conventions and systems due to the need of doing things which others have not. Creative people are highly motivated. They have energy to solve difficulties. They are ambitious, have strong determination and wishes to succeed in their undertakings (Dhillon, 2006). Creative people are highly flexible as they are able to recognize aspects of different issues and come up with good solutions and ideas. For groups to be creative they need to appreciate diversity of the members and allow different views and ideas in order to come up with creative solutions. Also, groups should foster collaborations in all activities and be able to compromise on different

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